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Airdate: The New Legends of Monkey

2018 version of the tale that inspired cult Japanese series begins later this month.

ABC-Netflix-TVNZ co-production The New Legends of Monkey debuts on ABC ME at the end of the month.

The 10 part series, inspired by a 16th Century Chinese novel, follows a teenage girl and a trio of fallen gods on a perilous journey as they attempt to bring an end to a demonic reign of chaos and restore balance to their world.

The cast features Chai Hansen (Mako Mermaids, The 100) as Monkey, with Luciane Buchanan (Filthy Rich, Blue Rose) playing Tripitaka, Josh Thomson (Terry Teo, 7 Days) playing Pigsy and Emilie Cocquerel (Lion, An Accidental Soldier).

Produced by See Saw Films this is a new version of the tale that inspired cult Japanese series Monkey (1978).

It begins with a 3 episode telemovie and continues daily across the following week.

A young girl uncovers a statue of the legendary Monkey King, but in order to release this ancient God from his stone prison she must first find his golden crown, a crown that has fallen into the hands of Demons.

Whilst waitressing in a tavern in Palawa, the girl sees the reflection in a man’s cup of the very same Font Demon that stole the crown. Then she notices the crown in his bag.

It is the Font Demon in disguise. She waits until the main starts dozing, then she chooses her moment and swipes the crown. The man realizes the crown is missing and transforms into the Font Demon, pursuing the girl. She heads into the forest towards the Monkey King’s statue. Just as she reaches the statue, grappling to put the golden crown on its head, she is yanked back by the demonic power of the Font Demon. But it’s too late. The Monkey King has been released. He appears, and parries with the Font Demon, eventually overpowering him.

Having released the Monkey King, Tripitaka is shocked to find him indifferent to the Scholar’s mission. Struggling to keep him on side, and still being pursued by Demons, she finds help in the unlikeliest of places.

6:00pm Sunday January 28 on ABC ME.

One Response

  1. Yikes. It looks like the intern who is running the ABC’s publicity dept. over Summer watched the first two minutes and then scrawled something down before heading off to the pub. Loosely based on Journey Into The West, less so than the 1978 Japanese series to which it owes a feminine Tripitaka.

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